The correct answer is: A. are being deprived
The sentence is about a continuous action that started in the past and continues to the present. The verb “to be deprived” is used to describe the state of being without something that is essential or necessary. In this case, the people are being deprived of food.
The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the action that is taking
place. Option B, “have been deprived,” suggests that the people were deprived of food at some point in the past but are no longer deprived. Option C, “has been deprived,” is also incorrect because it uses the singular form of the verb, which is not appropriate for a sentence about a group of people. Option D, “No improvement,” is incorrect because the sentence is grammatically incorrect.Here is a more detailed explanation of each option:
- Option A, “are being deprived,” is the correct answer because it accurately describes the action that is taking place. The people are being deprived of food, which is a continuous action that started in the past and continues to the present.
- Option B, “have been deprived,” suggests that the people were deprived of food at some point in the past but are no longer deprived. This is not accurate because the sentence states that the people are “deprived of two square meals since independence.” This suggests that the people have been deprived of food for a long period of time and are still deprived.
- Option C, “has been deprived,” is also incorrect because it uses the singular form of the verb, which is not appropriate for a sentence about a group of people. The sentence is about millions of people, so the verb should be plural.
- Option D, “No improvement,” is incorrect because the sentence is grammatically incorrect. The verb “to be deprived” is used to describe the state of being without something that is essential or necessary. In this case, the people are being deprived of food. The sentence should read: “Millions of people in our country are being deprived of two square meals since independence.”